This year sees a decade of striding with pride as KM Walk to School services Walk on Wednesday (WOW) and Active Bug celebrate it's 10 anniversary.

KM Walk to School key partner Bel UK have been involved with the schemes for over five years and their support continues in this landmark year.

Chloe Feminier of Bel UK, said: “We are delighted to be extending our relationship with KM Walk to school, particularly during this celebratory anniversary period. Our partnership has seen thousands of cars removed from the county’s roads, and provided children with invaluable road safety skills in the process.”

She added: “We hope to provide even bigger and better things in the coming years, and see even more pupils feel passionate about walking.”

Last academic year, green travel initiatives including WOW, Active Bug and Green Footsteps saw over 250,000 vehicles removed from roads in Kent, Medway, and Bexley, as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 10 times the weight of Big Ben.

Children involved with KM Walk to School benefit from a healthier, more active lifestyle, whilst schools enjoy safer gates, less traffic and congestion, plus significantly lower levels of air and noise pollution.

The schemes reward pupils for their walking; offering fun incentives to pursue green travel such as stickers, trophies and monthly competitions to win tickets for action-packed days out.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team which organises the services, said: “The growth of both Walk on Wednesday and Active Bug across the past decade has been phenomenal, and to see so many benefit from these initiatives is truly humbling. Much like Bel UK, we cannot wait to see what the future has in store for us, and we look forward to welcoming many more schools into the scheme.”

KM Walk to School is led by a collective partnership including Kent County Council, Medway Council and the KM Group. Organisations supporting the services include Specsavers, Safer Kent, Eurostar, Golding Homes, Southern Water, Circle Housing, Leeds Castle, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment, Orbit South, Whitefriars Canterbury, Maidstone Council, Ashford Borough Council, and Bexley Council.

The partnership operates green travel initiatives for schools including parent-led walking buses, Walk on Wednesday (WOW), Active Bug and Green Footsteps.

For more information about KM Walk to School, and to find out how your school can get involved, visit www.kmwalktoschool.co.uk